Igniter for gas-engines



Patented lune 6, I899.

C. G. RIIITTE. IGNITNEB FOR GAS ENGINES.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1898.)

(No Model.)

l I I I I I I I I I l l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l I IR I I l I Il I I l I I I I I I I l I l I I l l I I I I I l l I S E S S E N H WATTORNEY m: NQRRIB PEIERS c0. PNOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON. o. c.

NiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL C. RIOTTE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE C. O. RIOTTECOMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,394, dated. June 6,1899.

Application filed March 29, 1898.

To all zuhmn 2125 may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL O. RIOTTE, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residin g at New York,

in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Igniters for Gas'-Engines, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to igniters for gasengines, the object being toprovide a simple device which shall be applicable to any of the varioustypes of such engines and'which shall embody a provision wherebypremature enplosion of the compressed gas in the explosionchamber may beprevented and such explosions permitted to take place only at the momentthe piston shall have reached the limit .of its back stroke; and theinvention consists able gas or vapor in said explosion-chamberin themanner familiar to persons skilled in this art.

The igniter is shown at E and may be located at any desired point on theside or head of the cylinder where it can make communication with thechamber 0.

The igniter consists of two principal parts, a hollow body portion orchamber 6 and a restricted opening thereto, in this embodimentconsisting of a somewhat elongated neck f, having a passage ftherethrough, communicating with said chamber 6. The two parts aforesaidare preferably made separate and are screwed or otherwise joinedtogether to form a tight join t. The outer end of the neck f is providedwith a screw-thread, whereby the igniter may be attached to the cylinderA.

In the preferred form of the igniter the passage f at a suitable pointintermediate the extremities thereof is provided with a shoulder f sothat the area of said passage Serial No. 675,541. (No model.)

from the shoulder to the outer end of the neck f is somewhat reduced, asindicated at f. iis a resistance-coil, of, preferably, platinum wire, tobe raised to a temperature sufficieut to explode the gas by an electriccurrent extending into the chamber 6 and preferably supporting a bunchor tuft of gauze i, which can be quickly heated. The wire 2 ispreferably attached to a removable cap or plug m, as shown, so that thesaid gauze may be accessible for inspection or renewal.

In starting the engine I usually employ the electric primary igniter 'ii or other com* mon means (not shown) for producing the first fewexplosions. After two or three explosions the parts become so heatedthat the gauze will be kept hot enough to explode the gas, and then thecurrent from the wire coil may be shut off and the operation will thengo on automatically. I may omit the platinum wire and gauze entirely anduse the form shown in Fig. 2, and the starting may be accomplished byapplying a flame to the outside of the chamber e until a sufficientdegree of heat has been absorbed to ignite the confined gas, in the samemanner as explained below.

In the regular operation of the machine gas is admitted in the usualmanner to the explosion-chamber C during the forward stroke of thepiston and is compressed by said piston on the back stroke thereof andforced into the chamber 6 of the igniter. On reaching said chamber thegas so admitted is ignited, burning in a strong jet, which increases instrength as the gas is further compressed. The flame, however, isprevented from then burning back through the passage f to the chamber 0by the pressure of the gas behind it, which, being forced through therestricted portion f of said passage, acts as a blast upon the jet. Whenthe piston reaches the limit of its back stroke, the blast ceases and anequilibrium of pressure is established, whereupon the flame travelsforward through the passage f and ignites the gas in the eX-plosion-chamber 0. Thus it will be observed that-the structure is suchthat assoon as the igniter is heated it will be automatically sustainedat a sufficiently highheat to effect successive explosions at the propertime.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In combination a cylinder, andan igniter having a metallic ignition-chamber, a re-' stricted'openin gtherefrom through which gas stricted opening therefrom through which gasV to'be ignited is adapted to be forced, said chamber being enlargedrelatively to said opening, said chamber being also closed in its normaloperation to the egress of gas ex cept through said opening, saidigniter 10-. cated outside of said cylinder, so as to be away from thedirect heat of the combustionchamber and containing in saidignitionchamber an electric igniting attachment.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 26th day of March, 1898.

, CARL G. RIOTTE. WVitn esses EMERSON R. NEWELL, FRANK S. OBER.

